The passion and wonder Abinet has for space is lost on the reader, if only for a moment. No, but really – why does Ethiopia need a multi-million dollar observatory?

It doesn’t need it, but it now has one, and it’s a real treat. To go into Abinet’s reasoning a bit deeper – developing a more stable society requires institutions which can prevent brain drain. Among these are strong, well-maintained universities, and buildings like the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre.

It was privately funded initially, but now receives funding from the government – and the observatory provides amazing views of Orion’s belt.

The challenge to the observatory is justified: Why would a country with widespread starvation need an observatory; Surely there are more pressing needs? There are – indeed there are. But there’s also the need to make that first brave step into a new, longer-term institutional thinking which encourage better-educated people to remain in a country.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow – and by celebrating the observatory, I don’t mean to diminish the severity of the food crisis or climate change in the region. What I mean to say is, it’s possible to celebrate a development like Ethiopia’s observatory and have concern for crises. After all, it’s what young Ethiopians working at the observatory seem to be most concerned about – providing a more stable base for their country.